Tenchu series

[Ack]

I've only ever played one of these games, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, but I've always thought it to be a really good game. It just had so much to offer me. Two characters from the start, both with a 10 level storyline with 3 layouts each, plus a third character, Tesshu, with six levels(and 3 layouts), and the final secret level(for a total of 79 overall), as well as unlockable special moves and items, and even a few items you can only get if you find them. Plus, there was an unlockable alternate dubbing track for the storyline.

I've played on and off for a few years, and I still haven't finished everything in it, though I'm pretty close. I've only got 2 levels of the 18 for Tesshu to get his highest rating in, and I kinda neglected playing as Ayame, so I've got 1 level I've beaten but have to go back and get a higher rating, and 17 variations I haven't tried yet. With Rikimaru I've done everything(and I mean everything).

Are all the Tenchu games this deep? I mean, really? This game even had multiplayer deathmatch and co-op. I've probably spent more time in this game than in many of my other PlayStation 2 titles. Could I sink as many hours into other games as I've sunk into this(currently somewhere between forty and fifty, I believe...) and still have more to do?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Tenchu Z on the 360 is good, its a remake of the original, so its not as deep as some would like it, and the co-op is pretty bad since it usually consists of killing one person and alot of times somebody will rush and kill the target before you even get halfway there. It also has some programming problems which can be abused (such as the running on the wall that spans the outer edge of the village and crouching behind an enemy even if he saw you and being able to evade that way.

[Gamerforlife]

I've always enjoyed the Tenchu series. The first one has two characters you can play through the game as and try getting Grand Master rating on all the levels. This will unlock awesome ninja items for you to use. The second one has three characters to go through the game as so it can get last awhile. I recall the second one actually having a decent story too. That's the only one I completed entirely and it took some time. It's a bit tougher than some of the other Tenchu games. You had to be PERFECT on some stages to get Grand Master and getting all the special items meant getting Grand Master ranking on the stages AND finding a few that were hidden in the stages.

Wrath of Heaven is better than both of those though being that it's newer, but that's mostly because it has more features and the graphics are a bit better. There is a new Tenchu that just came out on the Wii that has gotten mostly good reviews(though there are a few low scores on gamerankings.com). It's also getting a PSP port. I think it's called Tenchu 4 and I haven't played it yet. I've never even gotten around to finishing Wrath of Heaven yet. Most Tenchu games have the same basic concept so if you like one you'll probably like the others. Tenchu 1 and 2 on the PS1, along with Wrath of Heaven have been the most well received by fans it seems, with people having mixed feelings about all the other entries

I love the hunter/prey vibe in the Tenchu games and the feeling of satisfaction when you can perfectly stealth a level and get that Grand Master ranking. Getting cool new items as a reward is just gravy. Tenchu is more focused on its stealth element than something like Metal Gear Solid and it actually came out BEFORE the original Metal Gear Solid. Thus being the PS1's first 3-D stealth game. Metal Gear Solid stole ALL its thunder though. I've always viewed the Tenchu series as somewhat underrated here in the West, kind of like the Dynasty Warriors series. It doesn't have all the gimmicky garbage and uber graphics that characterize most modern games and is instead focused on doing one thing and doing it well. The very reason why many of us like retro titles

[IcKy99]

ive only played the first Tenchu when it came out on PS1 that was many moons ago.

[anosou]

I'm intrigued by Tenchu Z ever since I realized From Software had something to do with it. God I love From Software.

Which of the PS2 Tenchu games are worth getting cheap?

[PGchris]

I actually really enjoyed the tenchu for ps1 but for some reason never checked out the later games

[wip3outguy7]

IMO, the PS2 games are the weakest in the series. I would stay away from them. If you MUST own one of them, make it Wrath of Heaven - at least it has a decent 2 player split screen mode.

Acquire stopped developing the Tenchu games after Tenchu 2. They are what made the series so special. When they were gone, the series received unintuitive "updates" and poorly implemented 3D controls. The story-line lost the legends and lore feel it had from the first two games and silly new characters were introduced.

The original development team did create the new Wii game but I think it looks laughable. Good impressions or not.

If you managed to sit through my rant, I do have a point.

Acquire started another Ninja series when they lost the rights to Tenchu. Shinobido. Shinobido feels just like the original two Tenchu games but with updated game play that feels like a natural progression from Tenchu 2. Most important, Shinobido retains the nonlinear style of the first two Tenchu games. Wrath of Heaven was an extremely linear game. The freedom to tackle nearly every level as you saw fit was almost completely vacant. Shinobido continues the free roaming tradition and allows you to go just about anywhere in a level whenever you want and complete it at your own pace.

You would be wise to forget that any of the PS2/Xbox (not 360) Tenchus existed and hunt down Shinobido. It was released in Europe so playing the series in English is possible.

Don't bother with the PSP Tenchu. There is a reason Sega never published it in the States. The draw distance is a laughable 10 feet and the controls are even worse than its PS2 cousins'. Shinobido for the PSP is much more playable (see a trend here?) and the ad-hoc multiplayer is awesome. We played it daily at my last job.

[the7k]

Yeah, I liked Wrath of Heaven (3), but the Tenchu and Tenchu 2 are definitely must haves. Tenchu 3, while decent, lost a lot of the soul of the original series, and the ones after 3 didn't even interest me in the slightest.

But yeah, get Tenchu and Tenchu 2 for your PlayStation collection; it won't be a true PlayStation collection without them.

[Mozgus]

Love love love 1 and 2, but especially 1, seeing as how 2 had very little music, and it was in mono. Have yet to give the later games much of a chance.

[fingersmaloy]

Two was a great evolution of one, and one of the few games where I found myself really getting into the story, even though Ayame sounds like a sassy white teenager. There are more than twice as many stealth kills, and you can make your own levels, which none of the other Tenchu games have had (I think), but which Shinobido does have.

But personally my favorite is Tenchu 3. I just really liked the levels and the special moves. Tenchu: Fatal Shadows should have been just as good since it didn't really change much, but for some reason it didn't really work. I guess the levels were just boring.